Surveillance video of a car prowl in action (above).

November 20, 2012 — The Salt Lake City Police Department last night engaged in a strategic operation to curtail vehicle burglaries — also known as “car prowls” — in the downtown area, a part of the city that has seen a recent spike in such activity. Although contact was made with subjects throughout the evening, there were no arrests or incidents reported during the operational period.

From mid-August to mid-November this year, there were 324 reported car prowls compared to 446 during the same period in 2011. However, entering the holiday shopping season, the data was beginning to show spikes of activity downtown, according to investigators, who initiated last night’s operation as a result.

Surveillance video (above) of a car prowl in action shows how quickly one may become the victim of a vehicle burglary. So remember to stow valuables out of sight or in the trunk — whether parking a car downtown or on the street at home — to reduce the likelihood of becoming the victim of a property crime. For more safety tips, please consider downloading the SLCPD Holiday Safety brochure.